Line Size For River Smallmouth

[Scott25.stl]

Anyone ever try Yo Zuri Ultra Soft co-polymer? That's what I went in to Cabela's for originally, but they don't carry it and Bass Pro was out of it.

[Mitch f]

Anyone ever try Yo Zuri Ultra Soft co-polymer? That's what I went in to Cabela's for originally, but they don't carry it and Bass Pro was out of it.

That's what I use for my spinning reels, strong as heck, a little too much memory though.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm not sure line size matters that much in most situations. I usually just use 6 or 8 pound test when I'm fishing for smallies, because that's about as heavy as I can go on the light set-ups I use...I do break off of course sometimes, but it almost always has to more to do with a bad knot than the fact the fish I hooked is too big to handle on light line. On most of the little creeks I fish there just aren't that many hogs, so heavy tackle isn't really necessary. I will often go to a medium action and 10 pound test on bigger rivers where the chances of catching 17 inch+ are greater, to avoid stressing them out too much.

I agree that you should just go with what your comfortable with, within reason of course. If you're using something really light like 2 pound test then it goes without saying that is not good for the fish.

[Jerry Rapp]

the Alabama Rigs success sort of contradicts all the promotion of non visible line over the last few years. If a contraption of 5 wires, 5 lead weights, and 80lb braid catches them in the clearwater lakes, then maybe the fisherman has been caught by the flourocarbon thing???? The A Rig just defies all about stealth, quite entries, and making a lure look as natural as possible.

[ozark trout fisher]

The A Rig just defies all about stealth, quite entries, and making a lure look as natural as possible.

I'm sure that's true some places. But on really small, clear streams where the fish are used to dealing with natural predators, like herons, otters, etc, along with fisherman? I do think stealth, and trying to make a things appear as natural as possible can be pretty important. Like everything else it the best approach depends on where your fishing and what the conditions are. Sometimes something a little more subtle can be helpful, even necessary. That's where I think the light tackle comes into play.

[Jerry Rapp]

I hear you Ozark. I use clear sewing thread when I fish the trout parks in the winter. But this A Rig bundle is making me think.

[Al Agnew]

Seems to me that the difference in visibility TO THE FISH of 4# line compared to 10# line isn't all that great. I suspect the fish can see 4# line just fine in clear water. I know I can when I'm snorkeling. So if the fish are line shy, why wouldn't they be just as shy of light line as heavier line (within reason, of course; I doubt that you could use well rope on your Rapala and catch a lot of fish)? I think that it's far more important to match your line to your lures and tackle. Using marabou crappie jigs on 20# mono doesn't work very well...and using Zara Spooks on 4# line doesn't cut it, either.

[ozark trout fisher]

You are probably right, and I'm not one who has ever completely bought into light line being really necessary. I've always thought that the approach, stealth, etc is much more important on the sort of small, clear streams where this conversation is applicable. But I usually prefer to use ultra-light gear, because many of the lures I like to throw (at least on smaller streams) are too light to cast very well on heavier tackle. So if I'm using 6 pound test it has more to do with the fact that it works best with gear I'm using than wanting to avoid spooking fish. And the slightly lower visibility might not help much, but it can't hurt either. When I'm smallmouth fishing, the situations so rarely arise where I'm legitimately worried about breaking off a fish that I'm not sure it matters much.

Of course I find myself cursing this philosophy ever once in awhile when it does matter, but you have to figure there are trade-offs in anything.

[Greasy B]

Seems to me that the difference in visibility TO THE FISH of 4# line compared to 10# line isn't all that great. I suspect the fish can see 4# line just fine in clear water. I know I can when I'm snorkeling. So if the fish are line shy, why wouldn't they be just as shy of light line as heavier line (within reason, of course; I doubt that you could use well rope on your Rapala and catch a lot of fish)? I think that it's far more important to match your line to your lures and tackle. Using marabou crappie jigs on 20# mono doesn't work very well...and using Zara Spooks on 4# line doesn't cut it, either.

yep, it the same principle that applies when selecting leaders and tippet when fly fishing.

[Wayne SW/MO]

73 posts and we still don't know what the best size is? This is getting awfully complicated.